Storms
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Lightning

Four women killed in lightning strike in Tamil Nadu, India

Another woman was injured and is undergoing treatment.
Another woman was injured and is undergoing treatment.
Four women in Cuddalore and one in Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu died due to lightning strikes on Thursday, after the Northeast monsoon began in Tamil Nadu. The India Meteorological Department has also said that there is a possibility of rain in various areas for the next week. Meanwhile, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvannamalai, Perambalur, and Ariyalur districts have been receiving heavy rain since Wednesday.

There was moderate rain throughout the Cuddalore district since Thursday morning, which turned into heavy rain with lightning in the afternoon. Agricultural workers engaged in weeding at a maize farm in Kazhdur, near Vepur, received the brunt of the lightning, and four women, Kavita, Parijatham, Chinna Ponnu and Adhilakshmi from Ariyanachi village, were burnt to death on the spot. Also, a woman who was working in the same field lost vision in both eyes after being struck by lightning.

Meanwhile, another woman died after being struck by lightning near Tiruvannamalai on Thursday.

Cloud Precipitation

Evacuations ordered in Southern California as severe storms threaten communities impacted by January wildfires

floods southern california mud slides
© AP Photo/Noah BergerA car traverses a flooded freeway ramp on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Oakland, Calif.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued for parts of Southern California, including Los Angeles, through 6 a.m. local time. This marked the first Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the Los Angeles area in more than 17 years, since Jan. 27, 2008.

Evacuation warnings are in effect for parts of Los Angeles, which are particularly vulnerable to mudslides, as a potent severe storm system charges across California. This area includes Pacific Palisades, which was devastated by January's wildfire disaster.

This comes as a strong area of low pressure brings heavy rain, thunderstorms and even a rare tornado threat across Southern California.

According to the National Weather Service, ash from wildfires creates burn scars - a water-repellent coating that prevents the ground from absorbing water and causes the area to be predisposed to flash flooding and debris flows.

Comment: And from Accuweather:
A storm will continue to barrel across California through Tuesday night, bringing much-needed rain and some mountain snow for the first time since early spring.

Showers began breaking out across Oregon and Northern California on Monday morning. Rain and high-elevation snow are forecast to expand as the storm dives southward along the Pacific coast.

Widespread rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches are expected from Redding, California, to Los Angeles.
sever storm southern california
© AccuweatherWeather pattern for October 14, 2025
"The heaviest rain will continue in the Los Angeles basin into Tuesday afternoon," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. Conditions for the drive home and for evening activities around Los Angeles should be improving substantially.

This could contribute to travel delays on the roads and at airports across the region.

"On a more serious note, where torrential rain falls on steep hillsides and burn scar locations, the potential for mudslides and other debris flows will be high," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski warned. "The risk has prompted evacuations north of Los Angeles as of early Tuesday morning. Motorists should be prepared for flooded roads, especially where the rate of rain overwhelms storm drains."

The foothills and mountains of Southern California could have as much as 2-4 inches of rain by Tuesday evening, which will bring the risks of flash flooding and debris flows, especially near burn scar areas, Buckingham warned.

The storm will be potent enough that severe thunderstorms will be of concern in Southern California through Tuesday afternoon.

"Flash flooding problems will mount quickly after the rain starts. There will even be a few thunderstorms that not only drop briefly heavy rain but also produce some wind and even hail," AccuWeather Meteorologist Chad Merrill said.

At the height of the storm, as winds blow in from the Pacific Ocean, temperatures will trend downward from the 70s to the 60s Fahrenheit in many low elevations in Northern California and the immediate Southern California coast early this week.

The incoming cold will allow for snow levels to drop to around 5,000 feet through Tuesday. Travelers planning to drive on Interstate 80 through Donner Pass, California, can expect a couple of inches of slushy snow and delays. Above the passes in the mountains, a foot or more of snow could accumulate, including in some of the resorts near Lake Tahoe.



Tsunami

Mexico floods leave at least 64 dead and 65 missing (UPDATED)

Widespread flooding in Poza Rica in Veracruz
Widespread flooding in Poza Rica in Veracruz
At least 27 people have died and others are missing, according to authorities, after floods in Mexico triggered landslides and swept away homes, vehicles and bridges.

Heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday caused rivers to burst their banks. Hidalgo in east Mexico was one of the worst affected areas, with 16 deaths reported.

Thousands of houses have been damaged or destroyed as fast-running water careered down streets, carrying cars, while highways were blocked with debris and electricity cut off.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said the government has deployed 5,400 personnel to help communities, clear roads and hand out aid.


Comment: Update October 12

The Anadolu Agency reports:
At least 42 people have been killed and 27 others remain missing after torrential rains unleashed severe flooding across several regions of Mexico, authorities said on Saturday.

In a statement, Mexico's National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC) said that the heavy downpours have caused devastating floods in the states of Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, Queretaro, and San Luis Potosi.

According to initial assessments, at least 42 people lost their lives in the floods, while search and rescue teams continue to work intensively to locate the 27 missing individuals.
Update October 14

Al Jazeera reports:
Torrential rain battered several Mexican states over several days last week, turning streets into rivers, sweeping away roads and bridges and triggering landslides.

Rescuers scrambled on Monday to reach people cut off by the devastating flooding, with 64 people killed in central and eastern Mexico and another 65 reported missing.

Dozens of small communities remained inaccessible days after the deluge, with residents working tirelessly to clear paths for the delivery of food and other supplies.

Mexico has deployed some 10,000 troops alongside civilian rescue teams to try to deal with the emergency. Helicopters have ferried food and water to 200 or so communities still cut off by road, and have evacuated the sick and injured.



Cloud Lightning

Lightning strike kills 24 cattle in Zambia

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A SMALL-scale farmer in Limulunga District, Western Province, has suffered a devastating loss after lightning struck and killed 24 cattle on Sunday evening.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, through the Department of Veterinary Services, confirmed receiving the report of the tragic incident, which occurred between 18:45 and 19:00 hours at the farm belonging to George Nyambe of Likuyu Crushpen.

In a statement issued yesterday, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Principal Public Relations Officer Benny Munyama said the department was closely monitoring the situation and would provide further guidance once laboratory results were available.

Tsunami

Rescues underway in western Alaska after Typhoon Halong remnants blast 100 mph winds, floods coastal villages

Flooding in western Alaska from the remnants of Typhoon Halong.
© Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency ManagementFlooding in western Alaska from the remnants of Typhoon Halong.
Heavy rain and hurricane-force wind gusts are causing damaging flooding in Western Alaska on Sunday, prompting rescues as the remnants of Typhoon Halong continue to impact coastal areas.

A powerful coastal storm produced by the remnants of Typhoon Halong moved into the Bering Sea on Sunday, packing hurricane-force wind gusts, big waves and major coastal flooding for the Kuskokwim Delta and communities south of the Bering Strait.

Flooding is already ongoing, according to local storm reports. Alaska Public Media reports some residents in Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta communities are unaccounted for or trapped in their homes due to high water.

Photos shared by the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management show dozens of homes surrounded by flooding.


Tsunami

Flash flooding continues to threaten southwest United States

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In the desert southwest, severe flooding continues to impact Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado after heavy rain this weekend.


Tsunami

Floods trap people in cars in Catalonia, Spain

La Ràpita is among the towns ravaged by floods
© ReutersLa Ràpita is among the towns ravaged by floods
Floods caused by torrential rain have left a number of people trapped in vehicles in Spain's north-eastern Catalonia region, officials say.

Videos on social media have emerged showing torrents of muddy water sweeping through the towns of La Ràpita and Santa Bàrbara in the Tarragona province, and moving everything in their path.

The highest red alert has been declared in the coastal province by Spain's national weather agency AEMET.

So far there have been no reports of any deaths or injuries.

Catalonia's Civil Protection agency urged residents in Tarragona's Ebro Delta to stay indoors, as AEMET warned of 180mm (7in) of rain in 12 hours in the area.


Tsunami

Flash flooding sweeps away cars in New Mexico as Desert Southwest braces for another round of tropical rain

Flash flood sweeps away a car in San Juan County, New Mexico on Oct. 10, 2025.
© San Juan County Fire & RescueFlash flood sweeps away a car in San Juan County, New Mexico on Oct. 10, 2025.
Remnant tropical moisture from post-tropical storm Priscilla has soaked areas of the Desert Southwest since Friday, resulting in flash flooding that swallowed at least two vehicles in San Juan County, in northwest New Mexico.

"Yes, you can go anywhere in a Jeep.... But sometimes you shouldn't," San Juan County Fire & Rescue officials said. "This Jeep was pushed a few hundred yards down a running wash when the driver tried to cross. The driver managed to get out of the vehicle and hang out on the hood until rescuers arrived."

The Eastern Pacific will remain active and deliver another round of heavy tropical rains in a moisture surge associated with Tropical Storm Raymond on Monday and Tuesday. That will increase the flash flood risk as several more inches of rain are likely.

As the moisture slowly shifts east, a large level 2 out of 4 risk for flash flooding is present through Saturday, with flood watches being issued across Southeastern California, most of Arizona, Southern Utah and Western Colorado.

Tornado2

Tornado that looks like massive elephant trunk whirls over Chilika Lake, Odisha, India

Tornado Hanthisund in Odisha's Chilika
Tornado Hanthisund in Odisha's Chilika Lake
Tornadoes are uncommon in India, and usually limited to specific eastern and northeastern regions. The sudden emergence of such an impactful natural phenomenon tends to cause fear and flight, especially when one sees it up close. Recently, a tornado appeared over a famous coast in Odisha, surprising tourists and locals. The tornado had a unique shape, and several videos went viral on social media showing the sudden tornado.


Snowflake

Towering waterspout spins for 20 minutes near Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island

The waterspout appears near the Bai Vong Port in Phu Quoc, Oct. 10, 2025.
© Duong DongThe waterspout appears near the Bai Vong Port in Phu Quoc, Oct. 10, 2025.
A waterspout hundreds of meters high swirled off Bai Vong Port in Phu Quoc on Oct. 10, holding onlookers spellbound as it spun for 20 minutes before fading away.

The funnel cloud formed at about 8 a.m., just a few kilometers from shore, and was clearly visible from the mainland.

"The waterspout was quite close to the coast. It lasted for about 20 minutes and then disappeared," said Hai, a resident living near the port. Local officials said no damage was reported.

Meteorologists explained that waterspouts are narrow, powerful columns of rotating air that pull moisture from the water's surface into cumulonimbus clouds, forming a funnel shape.

Typically born from thunderclouds, they can swirl within areas 10 - 16 kilometers wide and travel vast distances, sometimes lifting or destroying objects along their path.